Silted-up river raises flood fears at Dumuria

DUMURIA, KHULNA, July  29: Thousands of acres of fish farms and cropland in Khulna's Dumuria Upazila are at risk of flooding as water has remained trapped in the Domra Beel following heavy rainfall, with locals blaming siltation in the Hari Bhadra River for the worsening water-logging.

Farmers and fish growers said excess rainwater has been unable to drain from the beel because several kilometres of the river have become silted up, raising fears that large parts of Khornia Union and neighbouring villages could soon be inundated.

According to local sources, although the Hari Bhadra River was dredged under the supervision of the army, a five- to six-kilometre stretch downstream from Khornia has since become clogged with silt again, reducing the river's navigability.

Residents also alleged that dredging work has progressed slowly, claiming dredgers often operate for only a short period each day.

Abdul Halim Sardar, President of the Domra Beel Management Committee, said water from the beel was no longer flowing out normally because of heavy siltation in the river.

"If urgent measures are not taken, thousands of people in Khornia, Angardoha, Tipna, Pachpota, Pachuria, Bhadradia, Bahadurpur, Baliakhali, Bamandia, Gonali and nearby villages may become stranded by floodwater," he said.

He also warned that hundreds of fish enclosures could be submerged, causing heavy financial losses.

Shrimp farmer Nazrul Islam and fish farm owner Abdul Halim said embankments surrounding their enclosures were under increasing pressure from the rising water.

"If the fish farms go under water, we will lose not only our investment but also face a huge debt burden," they said.

Union Parishad Member Molla Abul Kashem and Domra Beel committee General Secretary Sheikh Robiul Islam said the problem extends beyond a single village, as the local economy depends heavily on agriculture and aquaculture.

"If the Hari Bhadra River is not cleared of silt and its flow restored, farming activities during the coming season will be severely affected," they said.
Khornia Union Parishad Administrator Md Moslem Ali said the local administration was closely monitoring the situation.

"We are discussing immediate measures that can provide relief to residents as quickly as possible," he said.

Dumuria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabita Sarkar said the administration was aware of the growing concerns over water-logging.

"We will coordinate with the relevant authorities to improve water drainage and take the necessary steps," she said.

Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ujjal Kumar Sen said officials would inspect the silted section of the Hari Bhadra River and take steps to remove the accumulated sediment and restore the river's flow.

Local residents said the Domra Beel supports a large share of the agriculture and fisheries sector in southern Dumuria. They urged the authorities to undertake regular dredging and ensure proper maintenance of river regulators, warning that temporary measures alone would not provide a lasting solution.

Without prompt intervention, they fear the water-logging could spread beyond Khornia, dealing a major blow to the rural economy of Dumuria.